Telephone-exchange system.



H. P. CLAUSEN.

. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED,DEC.13. 191s.

1,25 1 A75 Patented Jan. 1, 191&

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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H.P.CLAUSEN. I TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTENL,

APPLI CATION FILED DEC. 13, 191B.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

3. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. P. CLAUSEN. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1916- Patented Jan. 1, i918.

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HENRY P. CLAUSEN', 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELEC-TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Patented Jan. '1, 1918.

Application'filed December 13, 1916. Serial No. 136,626.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LHENRY P. CLAUsnN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county ofVVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems, and particularlyto methods of and apparatus for making peg counts in an automaticexchange.

An object of the invention is to provide for the accurate and as nearlyinstantaneous as possible count of the number of calls being handled bya telephone exchange system at any one time, whereby certain data may begathered with the'least amount of effort.

Briefly stated this object is accomplished by automatically andsuccessively'bringing a recording device intoassociation with theapparatus of a system and making it responsive to the busy condition ofsuch apparatus. V

A. further object of this'invention is to provide means forautomatically counting the number of calls handled over agiven length oftime and making a record on a single chart or a number of charts whichby a later scrutinization will reveal the conditions of traffic.

Previously made peg counts have revealed certain conditions which havebeen recognized and heeded in the design and construction of newsystems; for instance, one fact well established by such methods is thatten line finder switches and ten connector switches are suflicient tohandle the traflic initiated by or directed to a group of one hundredlines in an automatic telephone exchange.

Hence, by counting the number of line finders busy and the number ofconnector switches busy, only onetenth the amount of work would need bedone should the total number of lines he examined with a view tocounting those busy.

A feature of the invention is the method description how a count may bemade of the total number of calls initiated within the exchange at anyone time, the total number of calls being answered by the subscriberswithin an exchange at any one time or over any given period of time, thetotal number of trunks between selectors busy at any one time or overany given period of time, the total number of lines within the exchangebusy at any one time or over any given period of time, the total numberof-incoming trunks from other exchanges busy at any one time or over anygiven period of time, and the total number of outgoing trunks to otherexchanges busy at any one time or over any given period of time.

This invention is not limited to use in an automatic exchange system,but -maybe applied to a manually operated system. The followingdescription will therefore also show how a count may be made of thetotal number of cord circuits busy at anyone time, the total number ofcord circuits busy within any stated period and the total number ofcompleted connections at any time orover any given period of time.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the recordingdevice and the means whereby it is brought into association with theapparatus of'which'it isintended to make a record of that part which isbusy; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical representation of the organization ofthe automatic switches within one exchange and the manner in which therecording devices shown in Fig. 1 are associated therewith;

Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically the man ner in which the recordingdevice of- Fig. 1 is'associated with the cord circuits of a manuallyoperated exchange; and Fig. 4 shows a modification of the recordingdevice useful in making a peg count of the total number of cord circuitsbusy within a given period of time. I i

In Fig. 1, 1 represents a terminal board minals 2, 3 and 4. A magnet SMis provided for stepping the. brushes from one setof terminals toanother when-thet-est on the first set is completed, the action of thismagnet being described in detail somewhat later.

Each brush such as B or B is connected to a recording magnet RM or RMwhich is responsive to the characteristic electrical condition denotinga busy condition of the apparatus under test. The recording magnetsRNetc, are arranged to control armatures such as A which, in turn, actuatenumber-wheels such as Number wheel 5 is provided with raised figures insuch a manner that when the chart C is pressed firmly against theperiphery of the wheel: 5, an impression will beleft thereon. The magnet6 is provided with an armature 7 so fashioned that in its actuatedmovement it .presses the chart C, through the agency of rod 8, againstthe periphery of number wheels, such as 5. The armature 7 is alsoprovided with a pawl which engages the teeth secured to the roller 15whereby the chart C is moved forward one step each time the magnet 6becomes deenergized.

' The operationof the recording device may be described as follows: Thehand switch H is first closed and a circuit thereupon establishedbetween ground, battery, hand switch H, magnet 9, normal contact andarmature of relay 10 to ground. Magnet 9 attracts its armatures ll, 12,13 and 14, and thereby establishes connection between the brushes B Betc., and the windingsv of recording magnets RM RM etc. Should the brushB for instance, rest upon the terminal 2, which. is connected with abusy piece of apparatus, then the recording magnet BM? in respondingwould move the number wheel 5 forward oneposition'.

As soon as a constantly moving interrupter I. of any well-known type,such asare usedv in telephone systems, moves around to such a positionthat a circuit is closed therethrough extending from ground, battery,hand. switch H, winding of relay 10, the interrupter I, and thence toground, the relay 10 is energized. The energization of relay 10 resultsin the movement of its armature, and the opening of theheretoforedescribed circuit. through magnet 9. Magnet 9 thereupon retracts itsarmatures.

A circuit is now established fromfground,

the armature and alternate contact of relay 10 to a point where thecircuit divides and may be traced thence in one direction through thewinding of magnet SM to bat-- tery and ground, and in the otherdirection through the Winding of relay 6 to battery rality of fixedterminals.

'As soonas the interrupter 1' moves to the .point Where the circuittherethrough is broken, the armature of relay 10 will return to itsnormal position, thereby causing the de'e'nergization of magnets 6 andSM,

and the reenergization of magnet 9. Suppose at this time that brush Brests upon the terminal 3 leading toa mechanism which isiidle. Therecording magnet RM being nonresponsive to an idle condition, will;

leave the number. wheel 5 in the position heretofore assumed, and uponthe next impression being made, the same number will appcar on thechart.

If each number wheel, such as 5', is originally setin; such. positionasto record zero on the first impression, then at the end of the testthe last rowof figures appearing will bean indication. of the number ofbusy mechanisms encountered'by each brush respectively. The sum of thesefigures will be thetotal Of the busy mechanisms. Moreover, a. close.scrutiny of the chart which may; have been previously ruled anddesignated; tocorrespond with the terminals over which the brushes areto travel, will show by thegpositions where, the number wheel 5 7 wasmoved, just which mechanism was busy, 1f such. information is wanted.

Referring now especially'to Fig. 2, the

figures. designated LF LFF, LF and LF represent groups of line finderswitches. The figures deslgnated F8 etc., 38, etc, G etc., representfirst selectors, second selectors and connector switches, respec--tively. The figures designated R, R R R and; R represent recordingmechanisms substantially the same as that described in Fig. l. Therecording mechathenumber; of line findersbusy in the groups LF and LFThe recording mechanism R is intended and; arranged to detect and recordthe number of connector switches nism- R is intended and arranged torecord busy in groups C and and the recording If, now

mechanism R isintendedand arranged to record the number of-busy trunksbetween first selectors FS and FS and second selectors SS and'SS A callinitiated in the group of lines served by the line finders LF will beswitched to the group of first selectors F8 from which the connectionwill be extended to a second selector, such as SS or SS1 from which itwill, in turn, be extended to any one of the connector switchesindicated.

the records maybe examinedsubsequently and will reveal the trafficconditions atthe time of the test in the fOllOWing. manner:

A sum of the line finders busy as taken by the recording mechanisms Rand R will indicate the number of calls initiated within the exchange atthat time; the sum of the connector switches found busy as recorded bythe recording mechanisms R and R will indicate the number. ofcalls'being answered and R and either one would represent the totalnumber of lines in the exchange busy.

Should it be assumed that Fig. 2 represents an exchange within a systemincluding a plurality of exchanges, then an additional record must bemade of the busy incoming trunks from other'ofiices and the busyoutgoing trunks to other offices. In this case the sum of the recordsmade byRfl'Bfi, R and R minus the sumof incoming andoutgoing foreignoffice trunks would represent the number of lines Within the exchangewhich are busy. At the same time arecord would be had of the traflicconditions within the foreign oifice trunks themselves. Othercombinations useful in thejtrafiic department of'a telephone company maybe made in a manner substantially the same asthatdescribed.

In Fig. 3 the brushes B and B are arranged to travel over and makecontactwith the terminals 32, '33, 34, etc., and form part of arecording device RD which is similar to that shown in Fig. l.

The terminals32 and 33 lead to the sleeve conductors 30- and 31respectively of the answering plug AC and the calling plug CGrespectively, of a manual telephone exchange cord circuit. Theterminals34 and 35 lead in a similar mannerto plugs AC and CO 1" Therecordingdevice RD is made-respon' a peg countis taken at any time,-

sive toythe. well-known busy condition-of such cord circuits whereby arecord ismade of such cordsas are found in use.

'At the'end of the test similar to that clemade by'the device RD.may bescrutinized and a determination made of the number of cords in "use, andthe. number of completed connections at the time the .test' was made.

represents a modification of the recording device shown in: Fig. 1, andhas for itsob- .ject the counting. of theznumber of cords busy over acertaininterval of time. The

brushes B andB are driven over the-terminals 40, 41,42, 43,'etc.,- by.the stepping magnet SM in a manner similar to that heretofore.described. The resistance 44 which shunts the supervisory lamp SL whenthe cord AC is busy, is connected to the terminals140 and 41 in thefollowing manner: One terminal of resistance 44 is connected to thewinding'of a relay 46, and from thence through the normal contactsscribed inconnection with F ig. 1 the record Referring now especially toFig.4, this 1..

of its armature to the terminal 40. The

other terminal of resistance 44 is connected to terminal 41 and to thearmature of relay 46 in parallel. 1 e

W'hen now the brushes l3 and B are driveninto association with theterminals 40 and 41, the drop of potential across the resistance 44.allows a current to flow over the path leading from resistance 44',terminal 41, the brush B, the relay 45, the

brush B the terminal 40,'the normal 'contacts of relay46, the winding ofrelay 46 to the resistance 44. Current flowing over this circuitenergizes relays 45 and 46. Re-

lay 46, inv attracting its armature, however,

completes a locking circuit for itself through its armature andalternate contact and opens the connection between the resistance andthe terminal 40. The relay 45 is thereby deenergized.

During the brief energization of this last I tracts another of itsarmatures and completes a circuit from "grounded battery, armature andcontact of magnet RM, normal con- -tacts of the right-hand innerarmature of relay 47, the winding of relay47, the contact and armatureof magnet SM to ground. Relay 47 attracts its armatures and completes alocking circuit for itself through ground, the armature and contactoflmagnet SM, the winding of relay 47, thealterits nate contactandiinnermost right-handiarmature of relay-47, the winding. of InagnetSMto battery and thence to ground. Magnet SM attracts its armature andopensthe circuit just described, at the same time causing the brushes Band B tomove into association with the terminals 42 and 43.

If weassume that the cord AC were not busy, then neither relay 45 nor 46would have responded, in. which case none. ofthe other actions wouldhave-resultedas described. However, a circuit is provided from ground,through the interrupter I, the outermost right-hand armature: and contact of relay 47, the winding of stepping magnet SM to battery andthence to ground, through which current for energizing the steppingmagnet SM would have flowed. In this manner the brushes B and B wouldhave been directed into association with the terminals 42 and 43.

Such a recording device as this is intended to be operated over a bankof terminals successively at intervals during a stated period of time.If, on the first movement a busy cord circuit is encountered, relay 46would attract its armatures as described, and close a locking circuitfor itself which would not be broken until the cord AC were restored toan idle condition. If, before this happens, the brushes l3 and B againpassed over the terminals 40 and 41, the relay 46 will be found still inan energized condition and no second record will be made of thecondition of cord AC If, however, during the movement the cord AC hasbecome idle and has again been taken for-use, the circuit will be foundin the original condition and a new record made of its new use.

In such a manner then can the total number of cords in an exchange usedvover a stated interval of time be counted.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recording device, a bank of. termi- 'nals, a plurality ofbrushes arranged; to travel over and make contact with said terminals, aplurality of recording magnets associated with said brushes, eacharranged to be responsive to a characteristic electrical condition whichmay exist on said terminals, a chart for receiving a record undercontrol of said recording magnets, and means for successively andautomatically moving said brushes into association with said terminals.-V

2.v In a telephone exchange, line switches, means for making a peg countof triafiic conditions therein, comprising a plurality of recordingdevices responsive to the busy condition of saidlineswitches, and meansfor successively and automatically moving said recording devices into.association with saidswitches.

3. In a telephone exchange system, line switches, connector 'switches,and foreign oflice trunks, means'for making a peg count of trafiicconditions. therein comprising a plurality of recording devices, saidrecording devices being responsive to the busy condition of such piecesof apparatus, and means for successively and. automatically bringingsaidrecordingidevices into association with saidpieces of apparatus,

4. In a telephone; exchanges stem, means said exchange and responsive tothe busy condition 0t sald organisms, andv means for successively andautomatically: bringing said recording devices into electricalconnection with the, part-iculargroups of: or-

ganisms over wliich'each of said recording devices has supervision. I

6. In a telephone-exchange system, means formaking apegcount of trafficconditions within such system over a giveni periodof timecomprising'aplurality of recording tion of the apparatus under count,means for preventing more than a single count-of aparticular piece ofbusy apparatus, and means for successively, repeatedly and;automatically bringing said: recording devices into electricalassociation. with such appa iratus.

7. In a recording device, a bank of terminals, aplurality of brushesarranged to devices each responsive to the busy. condi- 2 travel overand make, contact with, said terminals, a plurality of; recordingmagnets associated with said brushes and; each arranged to be responsiveto a characteristic electrical condition which may exist von saidterminals, a chart for receiving a record under control of saidrecording magnets, means for successively advancing said chart, andmeans for successively'andautomatically moving said brushesintoassociation with said; terminals.

8. In a telephone exchange, connecting circuits, means for making a pegcount of trafiic conditions therein comprising a plu rality of recordingdevices, said recording devices being responsive tothe busy condition ofsaid circuits, and means, for sue.- cessively' and automatically movingsaid recording devices from association with one group ofconnectingycircuits into association with another group of connectingcircuits.

9. In a telephone exchange, telephone lines and means forinterconnecting said telephone lines, means for making a peg count oftraflic conditions within such system comprising a recording deviceresponsive to the busy condition of said interconnecting means, andmeans for successively and automatically bringing said recording deviceinto association with the units of said interconnecting means.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day ofDecember, A. D.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

